Must-visit anime-manga related facilities in Japan

Japan is a manga and anime superpower. There are many facilities related to manga, anime, and special effects work throughout the country, where you can immerse yourself in the world of your favorite works. This Web Magazine will feature four facilities that are attracting nationwide attention in Japan, as well as introduce “J-WORLD TOKYO”, a theme park based on “Weekly Shonen Jump” that just opened on July 11, 2013, and cities associated with famous works.

There are many facilities related to anime and manga throughout Japan. This Web Magazine will introduce their representative facilities.

Ishinomori Mangattan Museum (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

The Ishinomaki Mangattan Museum is a manga museum that mainly exhibits the works by the cartoonist Shotaro Ishinomori, the author of “Kamen Rider” from Miyagi Prefecture. Although it was temporarily closed due to the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake, it was reopened in November 2012. It was redesigned in March 2013, with increased permanent exhibitions. The contents of the exhibitions are very exciting for fans of his work, including the exhibition of all the masks of “Kamen Rider”.

FUJIKO F FUJIO MUSEUM (Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

(C)Fujiko-Pro(C)Fujiko-Pro

Opened in 2011, the FUJIKO F FUJIO MUSEUM is a museum that introduces the works of Fujiko·F·Fujio, the author of “Doraemon” and other manga. The exhibition includes original drawings of “Doraemon”, “Perman” and other works, and Fujiko·F·Fujio’s favorite desk, as well as monuments of Doraemon, “Wherever Door (a door that leads to any place you like)”, and other objects exhibited outside.

FUJIKO F FUJIO MUSEUM

Address:2-8-1 Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa
Open hours:10:00 – 18:00
*Each day, the entrance time is divided into a quarterly time-schedule as follows: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00.
* Visitors must enter the museum no later than one half-hour after the reservation time.
Holidays:Tuesdays, December 30 – January 3. May be closed on dates other than those listed above as necessary.
* How to purchase tickets: Entrance is strictly by advance reservation on the specified date. Tickets can be purchased at Lawson convenience stores throughout Japan.
Access:Nine minutes by the Kawasaki City shuttle bus from Noborito Station on the Odakyu and JR lines.

Gundam Front Tokyo (Koto-ku, Tokyo)

(C)SOTSU･SUNRISE(C)SOTSU･SUNRISE

“Gundam Front Tokyo” is an entertainment facility on the 7th floor of “DiverCity Tokyo Plaza”, a commercial complex that opened in 2012 where visitors can experience the world of the Gundam series. In a large dome with a diameter of 16 meters, famous scenes from the Gundam series or new CG battle scenes are played. You can also have a commemorative photo taken in the cockpit of a life-size Gundam bust (paid service). Check out the 18m life-sized Gundam statue standing in the Festival Plaza of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza as well!

Gundam Front Tokyo

Address:DiverCity Tokyo Plaza 7F, 1-1-10 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Open hours:10:00 – 21:00 (admission by 20:00)
Access:Five minutes on foot from Daiba Station on the Tokyo Waterfront New Transit Waterfront Line (Yurikamome), 5 minutes on foot from “Tokyo Teleport” Station on the Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line

Chibi Maruko-chan Land (Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture)

Chibi Maruko-chan Land is a facility related to “Chibi Maruko-chan”, located in the commercial complex “S-Pulse Dream Plaza” in Shizuoka City, where sets from the series, including the school and the interior of Maruko’s home, are reproduced. It consists of various areas such as one where you can try games or sand painting and one where you can buy small snacks.

Chibi Maruko-chan Land

Address:S-Pulse Dream Plaza 3F, 13-15 Irifunecho, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka
Open hours:10:00 – 20:00 (admission by 19:30)
Access:Take the Tokaido Main Line from JR Shizuoka Station for 11 minutes and get off at Shimizu Station. 10 minutes by a free shuttle bus from Shimizu Station

There are many more facilities related to anime, manga and Tokusatsu (special effects works) in Japan, including “Anpanman” museums in various parts of Japan, “The Tezuka Osamu Manga Museum”, which exhibits objects related to Osamu Tezuka, a master of modern Japanese manga, and “Ultraman Stadium”, which attracts Ultraman fans. If you stop by a facility related to your favorite work while you are traveling throughout Japan, you might experience an unexpected surprise.

Experiencing the worlds of Dragon Ball or One Piece in “J-WORLD TOKYO”

“Weekly Shonen Jump” is a Japanese comic magazine that features famous serialized works, including “Dragon Ball”, that enjoys high popularity worldwide. “J-WORLD TOKYO”, an indoor theme park featuring the world of Weekly Shonen Jump, opened on the 3rd floor of the “Sunshine City” shopping mall in Ikebukuro, Tokyo on July 11.

In J-WORLD TOKYO, there are attractions through which you can enjoy the world of the three most popular series in the history of Weekly Shonen Jump: “Dragon Ball”, “One Piece”, and “Naruto”.
As an attraction related to Dragon Ball, there is a 3D attraction in which you can search for 7 dragon balls in an enemy base using Dragon Radar or beat various enemies by shooting “Kamehameha” together with Goku. If you are a fan of One Piece, you can experience the realistic world of One Piece displayed on a multi-monitor display on a ride that rotates 360° horizontally, or you can ride a carousel designed in the motif of The Straw Hat Pirates, including the main character. If you like “Naruto”, you cannot miss the attraction in which you become a ninja yourself and clear missions set in a maze with the help of directions given by Jonin (elite ninja).

There are also various areas, including the Heroes Arena, which features characters of popular series such as “Gin Tama” or “Hunter X Hunter”, “J-WORLD KITCHEN”, where you can enjoy foods designed in the motif of Shonen Jump comic series, and a store, so you can fully immerse yourself in the world of Weekly Shonen Jump.

J-WORLD TOKYO
Address:3F, Sunshine City World Import Mart, 3-1-3 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Open hours:10:00 – 22:00 (admission by 21:00)
Access:15 minutes on foot from Ikebukuro Station on each line, 5 minutes on foot from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line

*As of July 2013, purchasing admission tickets overseas is difficult. In addition, tickets may not be available at the door due to high popularity.

Feel the air of masterpieces in the cities associated with famous works!

(c)Nagaru Tanigawa･Noizi ito / a member of SOS

There are many cities associated with popular works or authors of anime or manga. Washinomiya Shrine in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture is famous as the stage for the anime, “Lucky Star”. In Takaoka City and Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, the hometowns of Fujiko F Fujio and Fujiko Fujio (A), there are statues of the Doraemon and Hattori-kun characters, and public transportation with pictures of the characters travels around the cities. In Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, there are 14 bronze statues of “Ryo-san”, the main character of “Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo”, as well as a statue of “Tsubasa Oozora”, the hero of “Captain Tsubasa”. In Hokuei-cho, Tottori Prefecture, the hometown of Gosho Aoyama, the author of “Case Closed”, there is “Conan Street”, which is lined with statues of the characters, and the museum, “Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory”. If you are a fan of the series, you might want to visit at least once.